benxt



m. b15522. Patentad Dec. 6. I898.

L. v. BENET.

GUN MOUNTING.

(Apylication filed Mar. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet'l.

{.Uituessvs (l t torneys.

Patented Dog. 6, 1 98.

No. 6l5,522.

L.,V. BENfiT. GUN MOUNTING.

. (Application filed. m. 14, 1898 (No Model.) 3 Shanta-Sheet 2,

witnesses WV war 4- a t'to rneys V No. 6l5,522. V Patented Dec. 6, I898.

- L. v. BENET;

GUN MOUNTING.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 189B.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

. Inventor witnesses I v To all whom it may concern..-

GU i hir'llllhl ESPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent l lo, 615,522, IL oce-mher 6,

Application filed March 14., 1898: Serial lie. 673,805v (li o model!) Be it known that I, LAURENCE V. 315N121, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paris, France, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Gun-Mountings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

lhis invention relates to gun-mountings in general, but more particularly to mountings for automatic machineguns of the type described in Letters Patent dated July 14, 1896, No. 56%,043. In guns of this type two men are required for the convenient service of the piece--one to feed the gun and one to aim and fire. It is essential that an armored protection be afforded to both these men against 7 inuske try fire, that definite positions be pro videdfor each msneonvenien-t 'fmilfi 'scrvice of the piece, and that the mounting be capable of being readily and quickly divided into parts of size and Weight suitable for stowage in ships boats. At the same time provision must be made for the transportation of a reasonable amount of ammunition on the mounting itself. in order to fulfil these requirements, the improved mounting is constructed as follows: The body of the mounting consists of a bullet-proof shield hinged together and so arranged that the two sections maybe folded one upon the other. To the lower section of this shield is riveted or otherwise attached an axle, on which are mounted Wheels of any approved pattern. separably attached a trail, preferably of 3116- tallic tubing, on either side of which issecured an adjustable support for a. seat, re spectively, for the gunner and the loader. This trail also carries a bracket carrying the elevating-gear or clamp for securing the gun in elevation. To one side of the middle line of the shield (right or left) is secured asocket in which is mounted the pivot carrying the gun. It is to be observed that heretofore the gun has been invariably mounted. in the middle line of the carriage and that by the new arrangement many advantages are secured. In fact, by this construction one half of the shield is utilized for the nice tion of the gunner and the otherlisli for protection ofthe loader. In. the shield is provided a suitable port or ernhraenre for the To the middle line of this shield is 10 l on the gun. On the left (or right) of the shield are provided suitable attachments for separably securing an animunitioi'i-chest convenient for the loader and With a capacity for the amount of ammunition necessary for an or dinary engagement.

While many of he details of this mounting are well-known contrivauces, the conception of the mounting as a Whole has enabled me to produce a light and compact mount log, a, result which would be impossible Without placing the gun out of the center line of the carriage. This therefore is the gist of my invention.

lte'ierence is had to the accompanying draw iugs, in "which the same parts are indicated by the some figures throughout the several views.-

Figure l is a side View of the mounting. Fig; 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. is a plan, and "Figs. 4: to 9 are details.

1 is the lower section of the shield, which forms, so to speak, the body of the mounting. 'lo it is secured the axle 2, of such form. as to afford the maximum or": resistance with the minimum of Weight. On the axle are mounted wheels secured by the usual finch-pins and swivels. ()n the ton of the lower-section 1 is hinged at 3 3 3the upper section 4, so an ranged as to afford protection for the heads of the gunner end loader. hen in. the developed position, the section 4; is secured by means of "pins-5 53. Partly in the section 1 21nd t1; in the on l; is cut the en. orasnre G. This ernbrasure is so carried to one side of the mounting that the gun and the gunner are entirelybetween the trail. the right (or left} wheel.

In the central vertical plane of the inouuting is attached the trail 7, which makes such an angle with the ground as to insure stability of the mounting as a Whole. The trail 7 is separately secured to the lower section l of the shield by the following de ice. To the head oi: the trail 7 is, attached a casting 8, Figs. 1, 2, i, and 5, the lower part of which is formed into a locking-lip 9 and the upper part into a pair of lugs 10 10. (in the lovqer section 1 of the shield is secured a- Ushaped sting; 11, into W rich may be eug'a ed lip 1' lug 12, which registers'witn the lugs Thr 1;, and 10' on the trail and shield may be passed a key 13, which firmly secures the trail '7 to the section 1 of the shield. To the right and the left of the trail '7 are adjust-ably attached the brackets M15, which support seats of any approved form, and on which the gunner and the loader may seat themselves conveniently for the service of the piece. These brackets are adjustahly clamped to the trail, so that the seats may be adjusted in the desired distance from the gun or ammunition box or to the desired height. The trail 7 is also provided with a bracket 16 for supporting at its extremity a clamp or elevating de; vice 17 of any well-lcnown forinsucl1, r0 instance, as the clamping device described and shown in application for United States Letters Patent filed September 7, 1897, in the names of L. V. Benet and H. A. Mei-ole for improvement in gun-mountings, Serial. No. 650,83l. The sole of the trail is formed of a casting 18, which is formed at the end into an eyepiece 19 for engaging with the pintle of the limber. I sometimes mount in this solepicce an adjustable roller 20 of Well-known construction for supporting the trail 7 when the gun is hauled Without its liniber. The said roller 20 is mounted upon a hollow axis 21, fitted to a pair of arms 22, pivoted at 23 to the casting 18. In the casting 18 are formed two eyes 24 24, receiving a pin 35 for supporting the hollow axis 21 of the roller when it is desired to haul the j. ,"Llll-lllOlllll3fl'O1ll place to place.

As already stated, the gum is carried by a pivot 26, which. in turn is supported by a socket- 27, riveicd or otherwise attached to the lower section 1 of the shield. The socket may be provided with. means for securing the gun in any fixed vertical plane, as shown, or with means for adjustably limiting its horizontal sweep of fire, suitable elevating-gear being then provided.

On the opposite side of the trail from the gun (left or right) a-h'd'direetly in front of the loadcrs seat 28 is secured the ammunitionchest 29. On the lower rearward edge of the chest 2!) are attached hooks 30, so formed that they may be disengaged from stirrnps 31 on the shield only when the chest has been so swung; down as to be essentially horizontal. The chest 29 is prevented from taking this position by chains 32, attached to the shield and engaging by means of snap-hooks with rings 33 on the chest. st"hen swung down to the limit of the chains 32, the lid of the chest maybe opened and the ammunition (in loading strips or otherwiselis in a convenlent position for handling by the loader. On the march the chest 29 may he swung 11;)- Ward until parallel to the shield and there secured" by means of a bolt 85, Figs. 1, 7, and 8, riveted to the shield and capable of engaging a stirrup Figs 1 and 9, on the chest.

To dismount the mounting for stowage in ships boats, proceed as follows: Throw hack the cap-squares, free the gun from the ele" vating-gear, and dismount; free the bolt 35 from the stirrup 36 on the chest 29, swing the chestdownward to full extent of the chains 32, free the chest from the chains, swing down un-' til horizontal, and remove; remove the linchpins, swivels, and wheels, and. lower the mounting to the ground; Withdraw the hey 13 and unshi p the trail 7'; withdraw the pins 5 5, and fold the section t of the shield down upon the section '1. The mounting in new div into light and handy par rcndiiy assent hlcd and convenient for storri'igc.

flaring new particularly described and cor (a ined the nature the said invention and hat manned-the same is to be performed,

"eeiare that What I claim is 1. in gnzrnionnt, the combination of a plate-shield, an axle secured to said shield,

wheels monnied on said axle, and a trail se cured to said shield, substantially as deserihed.

in a gunmount, the conihination with a plaieshicid, of an axle secured to said shield, NlflQf-Jlff; mounted on said axle, and a trail dei-acl'n'ihly secured to said shield, substantially as described.

ii. In a gun.-i'i1(niz1t, the conihination of a plate hield, an axle secured to s: 'd shield, who mounted on said axle, a trail secured to said shield, and a gun supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis oi the gun-nie'iniit, substantially as described.

4. in a gun-mount, the combination with a plate-sh id, of an axle secnred to said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail detach ahly'securcd to said shield, and. grin supperted hy said shield at OilQ'SltlG of the iongitudinal axis of the gnn monnt, enlist-antially as described.

5. in a gunanonnt, the combination of a shield armed oi a plnrality of plates hinged. together, an axle secured to one of said plate-e, wheels mount-2i on said axle, and a trail. also secured to said plate, substantially as desci-lied.

o a gnnqnount, the combination of a shiehi i'orme-fi ot a plurality of plates hinged towel-her, an axle secured to one of said plates, xv 'es mounted on said axis, and a trail detaehahly sienred to the same plate, as the snli stantially described.

in a gun-mount, the combination of a shield formed of plurality of plates hinged together, of an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail secured to said plate, and a gun supported by the same plate to which the tra'il and axle are secured, and at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gunqnonnt, substantially as deseri'oei'l.

8. in a gunniouni, the combination of a hiehfi formed of a plurality of plates hinged cgther, an axle secured to one of said plates, wheels ably secured to the same plate with the axle, and. a snp ierted by the same plate, substaotially as c'iesorihcd.

mounted on said axis, a trail detach- 9. In a gun-mount, the combination with a plate-shield forming essentially the framework of the mount, of means for supporting the gun on said shield,substantially as de scribed.

10. In a gun-mount, theeombination with a plate-shield forming essentially the frame work of the mount, of meansfor supporting the gun on said shield, and an ammunitionbox detaehably secured to said shield, substantially as described.

11. In a gun-mount the combination with a shield formed of a pluralityot' plates hinged together, one of which plates constitutes essentially the framework of the mount, of meansfor supporting the gun on said plate, substantially as described.

12. In a gun-mount, the combination with a shield formed of a plurality of plates hinged together, one of which plates constitutes essentially the framework of the mount, of means for mounting the gun on said plate, and an ammunition-box detaehably secured to said plate, substantially as described.-

7 13. In a gun-mount, the combination with a shield formed of a plurality of plates hinged together, one of which plates constitutes essentially the framework of the mount, of means for mounting the gun on said plate, and an ammunition-box hooked to said plate, substantially as described.

14. In a gun-mount, the combination of a plate-shield and an axle, trail, and ammunition-box seeured'to said shield, substantially as described.

15. In a gun-mount, the combination with a plate -shield,ofan axle secured to said shield and a trail and an ammunition-box, both detaehably secured to said shield, substantially as described.

16. In a gun-mount, the combination of a plate-shie1d, an axle secured to said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail secured. to said shield, a gun supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gun-mount, and an ammunition-box secured to said shield on the opposite side of the trail from the gun, substantially as described.

17. In a gun-mount, the combination with aplate-shield, of an axle secured to said shield, wheels mounted on said axle, a trail detachably secured to said shield, a gun supported by said shield at one side of the longitudinal axis of the gun-mount, and an annnunition-.

box detachably secured to said shield on the opposite side of the trail from the gun, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of February, 1898, in presonce of two subscribing witnesses.

LAURENCE liENlfi'l. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES Kenna, 'lnnononn Favixnoaiz. 

